We crack open my book, Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time, on the first Thursday of each month to see what we find.
In episode ninety-four, we discuss Bite 61, which focuses on writing meaningful dialogue. Bottom line: avoid the pleasantries and get straight to the point. Watch this video to hear an example of what you don’t want to do.
Tell us about your experience with writing and editing dialogue.
Also, we’re closing in on our one-hundredth episode of the Life Writers Vlog! How should we celebrate this milestone? Share your ideas in the comments section below.
I love thinking about what dialog is extraneous and what parts are important. This helps in micro-memoir writing too.
I add a small amount of dialogue or internal thoughts to most of my stories. I sometimes wonder if I need a disclaimer to let the reader know the dialogue changed from the original because I can’t remember. In the book “You Can’t Make Stuff Up” by Lee Gutkind on page 37 (which is in the sample on Amazon) he makes a point of being as accurate as you can. I think his perspective about this comes from reading authors who have made “stuff up” to add humour.
Niceties vs Purpose. I use little dialogue and have to push myself to include any at all. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I have been a long time observer and tend to describe and create scenes more than to promote speech through dialogue in stories I write. Food for thought! Congratulations on the one-hundreth episode. Maybe to celebrate LW could offer in a gesture of inclusion a book from your shopping list, all fees paid, to one of your foreigners members. Fron Canada, Mexico or any other country involved in LW.US. ”Do you think we should… Read more »
I have this snippet marked from a John L Carre novel where his character is speaking German but the dialog is written in English and in my brain she is speaking German.
“Are you inadequate, Mr. Nobody? I think perhaps you are. In your occupation, that is normal. You should join us, Mr. Nobody. You should take lessons with us and we will convert you to our cause. Then you will be adequate.”
I read it and just hear it in German. And with no special spellings or changes to the font.